Among reasons given were difficulties in assessing the safety of its airframe and engines and problems finding engineers capable of maintaining the aircraft.

The Trust spokesman added: “We are therefore going to work especially hard to make summer 2015 a memorable flying season for every Vulcan enthusiast across the country.

“We intend to use every flying hour available, taking her to more people than ever before, celebrating other iconic British engineering achievements and saluting the heroes of Britain’s legendary V-Force in which she played a vital role during the knife-edge tension of the Cold War.”